Category: Ecology
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Explore Limiting Factors and Carrying Capacity
Explore how limiting factors affect population growth. Students learn the definition of a limiting factor and apply it to several scenarios.
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Analyzing Data – Explore Features of Biomes
Practice analyzing data from graphs in this exercise. There are several graphs that show precipitation and temperature of nine major biomes of the world.
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Investigating Algae Blooms and Dinoflagellates
Explore data on algae blooms by creating a heat map revealing changes in algae over time. Discuss the role that humans have on algae growth.
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Ecology Case Study – The Wolves of Isle Royale
Case study explores the interactions of wolves and moose on Isle Royale. Students examine data on population growth and spinal deformities caused by inbreeding.
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Can Fish Recognize Themselves in a Mirror (CER)
Examine data that supports the claim that fish exhibit self awareness. Fish scrape their bodies on substrate when they see a mark on themselves in the mirror.
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Observe Photosynthesis with this Easy Experiment
Use phenol red to observe plant photosynthesis. As plants consume carbon, the indicator will change from yellow to red. Materials are easy!
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Macromolecules: The Building Blocks of Life
A process oriented lesson on how biomolecules are used by organisms to build tissues and maintain life. Focus is on chemistry and bonds withing molecules.
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Case Study – How Human Activities Affect Water Quality
Use the data to determine where a river is most polluted, and determine what factors affect the composition of the water, like locations near towns or farms.
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Comparing Monocots and Dicots with Coloring
Students learn about monocots and dicots by coloring diagrams of germination and flower structure. Great to pair with germination experiments!
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Modeling Survivorship Curves with Bubbles
A fun activity to model survivorship curves using bubbles. Students blow bubbles and time how long each survive under different conditions, then create a graph.
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Bullseye – A Medical Case Story for Biology
A basic biology case story about ticks and Lyme disease. Learn the anatomy of a tick and how the tick transmits a bacteria that causes disease.
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Can Sport Hunting Control Predator Populations?
Examine data that compares states that allow trophy hunting of pumas to California which does not allow hunting.
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Data Analysis – Invasion of the Jumping Worms
Lesson plan uses the 5E model to explore the invasive Asian Jumping Worm and its impact on soil and forests; includes data analysis.
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Estimating Population Size – Remote Learning Unit
Population growth studies are a common element to studies in ecology in my basic biology class. Students learn about exponential and logistic growth the impacts populations have on the environment. As part of this unit, I have had students simulate techniques used to estimate the size of a populations. I have toys packed in bags…
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Trophic Cascades at Biointeractive
This worksheet is designed for the Interactive Activity on Trophic Cascades at HHMI Biointeractive . Students learn how the loss or addition of a species, like a fox, can affect other organisms in the system. Students complete the worksheet by answering questions as they explore the interactive activity. The activity illustrates a trophic cascade in…